Thompson wins big in commissioner race

Republican Mark Thompson secured his second four-year term with the highest voter support of any candidate in Adair County

Adair County Commissioner for the 2nd District Mark Thompson broadly defeated Democratic challenger Larry Smith, earning the highest voter support percentage of any candidate.

Thompson received about 65 percent of the ballots cast (2,841 votes) to Smith’s about 35 percent (1,491 votes), defeating his opponent in all of the five precincts that vote for the 2nd district commissioner.

“I’m very pleased and apparently the voters were pleased and had enough confidence to vote in me,” Thompson said Wednesday morning.

The race’s largest margin, about 47 percent, was reported in the Rural Benton Precinct. In that precinct Thompson received 1,013 votes compared to Smith’s 358.

Smith came closest to securing a precinct in the Novinger area, with 406 votes to Thompson’s 427.

During both the primary and the general election, Thompson had spoken in favor of a county use tax proposition that was to be decided by voters. He said his concerns that support would be detrimental were not realized.

“It was a double-edged sword, but I would do it, back it again if it hadn’t passed,” he said.

In the vote, Thompson was also buoyed by a two-to-one win in absentee voters with 574 votes compared to Smith’s 289.

Thompson will be starting his second term as 2nd district county commissioner.He said voters can expect to see continued fiscally-responsible management of the county with a focus on improving the local economy and quality of life while also avoiding over-management and control.

“I want to help people economically and get government out of people’s lives,” he said.